Neb. frat chapter suspended after fire

A fraternity's national office suspended its Nebraska Wesleyan University chapter for four years after investigating a fatal fire at its house last year and alleged hazing.

Charlie Ball, Phi Kappa Tau national president, said Wednesday that there was no apparent link between violations of its risk management policy and the fire. But he said the violations were significant enough to warrant the suspension.

Jed Tompkins, president of the Wesleyan chapter at the time of the Nov. 17 fire that killed one student and seriously injured three others, said news of the suspension came as an "absolute surprise."

"We never were given an indication by national or Wesleyan that this was a possibility. ... I honestly felt betrayed by national," Tompkins said.

The chapter can petition to be reinstated after two years, if the university approves, Ball said.

The fraternity won't be allowed to operate as a recognized student organization on campus, although an alumni group owns the house and could let students live there if fire damage is repaired, said Steve Hartman, CEO of the national fraternity.

The Lincoln fraternity members will be granted alumni status, Hartman said. He said that if members are convicted of or admit to criminal activity, their membership in the fraternity could be revoked.

The fire and alleged hazing incidents occurred during initiation week festivities. The blaze killed 19-year-old Ryan Stewart.

The 1,800-student Nebraska Wesleyan is a Methodist Church-affiliated liberal arts college founded in 1887.

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On the Net:

Phi Kappa Tau: http://www.phikappatau.org:81/